Teenager jumps 50ft from bridge into canal because he wanted to cool off

‘Truly shocking': the boy is lucky not to have died, according to experts (Picture: MEN)

A Manchester teenager risked his life to jump 50ft from a bridge into an icy canal below – because he wanted to cool off.

The boy, who has not been identified, climbed on top of the curved arch of Salford Quays’ Lowry footbridge yesterday with two friends before leaping into the Manchester Ship Canal below.

The bare-chested teenager was filmed by passers-by as he made the jump, which has been labelled ‘truly shocking’ and ‘plain stupidity.’

‘I’m astonished that young people would risk their lives in this way,’ said Salford Mayor Ian Stewart.

‘Jumping off the side is dangerous enough but this is just plain stupidity.’

Temperatures across Greater Manchester reached 23C yesterday but Councillor Dave Acton, chairman of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority warned that though the water may look refreshing, it is incredibly dangerous.

‘These reckless people are lucky they weren’t killed,’ he said.

‘The temperature of most open water is extremely cold.

‘Our crews have pulled countless young people from canals and reservoirs.

‘They all thought they could cool off in the water, for some of them it was the last thing they did.’